The Scottish National Party (SNP) may be subject to another investigation into its finances as it failed to disclose two loans from its former chief executive, Peter Murrell, for five years, according to the Electoral Commission. The loans totalled £15,000 and were given in 2018, but the party failed to notify the commission until last year. The commission stated that it may consider enforcement action in line with its enforcement policy once the ongoing police investigation into SNP finances – codenamed Operation Branchform – has concluded. Murrell was arrested and released without charge in connection with this investigation last year, while ex-First Minister Nicloa Sturgeon, who is married to Murrell, was also arrested but later released without charge.
According to the latest accounts, the party still owes Murrell £60,000 from a loan payment of £107,620 in June 2021, half of which was repaid by October of that year. The SNP suffered a loss of more than £800,000 after experiencing a drop in income and membership, according to accounts published in August. Political parties in the UK are required to report donations and loans over £7,500 to the Electoral Commission on a quarterly basis, while smaller donations from a single donor that exceed this threshold, when added together, must also be reported.
The Scottish National Party has faced ongoing investigations surrounding its finances and donations, and the latest revelation regarding the non-disclosure of loans from its former chief executive may lead to further scrutiny. This comes amidst an already difficult time for the party, who lost a majority in the Scottish parliament in May 2021. The outcome of the investigation by the police into SNP finances, Operation Branchform, remains unclear, as no-one to date has been charged in connection with the allegations of wrongdoing. The party will need to address concerns around its finances and donation reporting transparency to maintain the trust of its supporters and avoid further damage to its reputation
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